PM Badawi’s Same Old ‘New’ Line

21 March, 2008 (17:51) | Op-ED, Politics

He hyped on it during the 2004 elections.

His image was built on being against it!

He promised to bring an end to it.

And the people practically handed the mandate to him back in 2004 with the hopes that he would solve the it problem!

It is non other than Corruption!

4 years on it’s become apparent to most Malaysian’s that PM Badawi’s talk of fighting corruption was exactly that - all talk and no action. Oh sure there were some arrest and court cases once in a while, but no credible nor tangible action to bring down the major players of the corruption disease festering in this country today was ever made.

Even worse are the cases of the State Assemblymen who circumvent the rule of law as if immune to it when building his ‘palace’ and also that of an MP’s literarily asking the authorities to “Close One Eye” - all added up to an even more desponding outlook for the battle against corruption.

Thus this time around the people have spoken. Among the many grouses of the people, corruption was indeed a key issue. A clear message has been sent to the people in power, especially PM Badawi, that more action is needed.

So this time around PM Badawi’s same old ‘new’ line is once more - Fight Against Corruption.This time though the thoughts on many peoples mind is whether or not he seriously make the effort or not this time?

For now he has made some small steps in the long road to bringing a credible fight to corruption by stating that all cabinet ministers and deputies will have to publicly declare their assets. While this is a good first step, still it’s definitely not enough in my opinion.

I say if the rot extends to the state exco’s and local councilmen, then PM Badawi must also extend the same requirement to all such personage under the BN umbrella.